A/N: last one I wrote while on vaca… as far as I know… Kasta is typing something with her nose… wondering if I should be worried…

Disclaimer: own Eli, Emery, Sky, and Dev's car

Shock had wiped over Kenny's face. And when they showed up on the doorstep of Kevin's house, it was still lingering in the corners of his features, his eyes wary of everyone around him and his usual smile faded to a flat line across his lips.

Eliza had died on the inside when she sensed her father's mana signature. And with Devlin throwing in the factor that he had read Kevin's thoughts to kill them made it even worse. Her heart had practically stopped in her chest and the frenzy of panic had overwhelmed her. Because she'd already lost her home and her life, but now she was losing her family too. Devlin's powers were on the verge of breaking and Kenny was the comic relief, not the comforting big brother that she needed.

This wasn't what she needed. She didn't want her father to kill her.

Kevin had opened the door and relief had flooded his features like a wave crashing on the beach shore. "Gwen's not going to kill me!" he said, immediately grabbing Ken and nearly crushing him to death in a hug. Sadly, Kenny was the one that feared him the most and cringed away from the hug even though he was being strangled and it just made it worse.

"If only we could say the same for you," muttered Eliza, leaning against her brother with her slim arms folded around her for warmth and safety. And Devlin's arm fell across her shoulders, knowing she needed that family tie to keep her grounded.

Gwen and Ben's faces showed up behind Kevin. "See, Kev," began Ben in his smug way, "your car is fine and they're not dead so your conscience is clear!"

"And let go of Ken," instructed Gwen in a quiet way, "you're killing him."

"The irony..." Devlin mumbled.

"It's sickening," whimpered Eliza, burying her face in his shoulder. She felt tears in her eyes and she wouldn't let them show. No one would ever see her cry. Only Devlin. Because he cared about her and she knew he'd take care of her forever and always.

"Okay, before I chew you out, I'm hoping to hear a dang good reason," said Gwen, stepping out of the doorway and pushing Kevin behind her. She was in her upset pose: arms folded across her chest, one foot a little bit more forward than the other and her facial features set to the "Disapprove" setting.

"An Emery clone was lurking outside our room," said Devlin's voice, sounding much more confident than he probably had in days. "I let him in, thinking it was actually our brother but-"

"I have a kid named Emery?" snorted Gwen, almost annoyed, shooting a dagger look at Kevin who just returned her glare with a sheepish smile and a hand that began to run through his ebony hair, knowing very well that if it wasn't her idea, it was bound to be his.

"-and he was a clone sent to capture us and take us somewhere so we shut him down and tracked the energy source to a place just outside of Bellwood or something like that," resumed Devlin, ignoring the interruption.

"And what happened from there?" asked Ben, his leadership skills instantly kicking in as if on instinct.

"We went there to 'em," said Kenny, finally released from his death grip. "We fought off Vulkanus's minions-"

"Vulkanus?" Kevin asked in a near whisper as the blood drained from his face, turning his expression a ghostly white. "He tried to capture you guys?"

"No," said Eliza, face still hidden.

"Vulkanus's minions, yes, but he wasn't involved," confirmed Devlin. He tightened his grip on his sister as he felt her shaking beside him. "Let's go inside. I can tell you guys then. Eli's getting cold."

The two Tennysons and the dark Levin ducked out of the doorway so Devlin could push past them into the house with his sister at his side, almost as if the two were joined at the hip, Kenny following close behind them. Eliza crashed into a couch and a pillow was immediately tucked tightly to her chest and her face was buried in it to hide her tear stained cheeks.

Devlin and Kenny crashed onto the small two-person couch as Gwen, Ben and Kevin filed in through the doorway and poised themselves on the only couch left. It fit the three of them, but just barely.

"So who sent a clone of your brother?" asked Ben, now definitely in his leader mode. "I only know a couple of our enemies that can time travel." His jade eyes narrowed in the direction of Gwen before returning to gaze to Devlin who was keeping a close eye on Eliza.

"We know one. And only because we're here. And now he's out to kill us," responded Devlin, leaning back into the very comfortable couch that he had suddenly taken a liking to. He kept his eyes on the corduroy pattern of it to distract himself. It worked pretty well.

"Who?" asked Kevin, face scrunching up in confusion.

Eliza's tear stained face was pulled from the pillow. Her normally bright emerald eyes were dulled with struggle and heartbreak. Her voice only said one word, but it was choked and almost strangled when it came out. Her eyes were aimed directly in Kevin's direction. "You."

A/N: need to edit this pretty fast. Then dinner. Then night swim. So bai for naoooo!

~Sky